Kia Ora, Welcome

See a moa in a minute or spend hours exploring New Zealand’s rich culturaland natural heritage.
Canterbury Museum is in the heart of Christchurch City, within strolling distance of the Botanic Gardens,
the Arts Centre,Christchurch Art Gallery and Cathedral Square.

RealStories

Tales of Canterbury’s heritage

Wander the streets of early Christchurch, where ladies ordered whale-bone corsets and men puffed on ivory pipes. See how people traversed the country by land and sea and learn about life in the city on the plains.

RealLife

Learn about our world

Visit the Bird Hall to see beautiful displays and dioramas of all our native species, including rare and extinct birds. In the Geology gallery discover spectacular fossils and learn about New Zealand’s fascinating marine reptiles. Find out more →

RealHistory

Venture into the past

The Asian Gallery is home to an intriguing collection of Eastern treasures. Be inspired by the intricate craftsmanship and detail of objects ranging from swords of the Samurai to delicate Chinese snuff bottles. Find out more →

RealDesign

Celebrate style and creativity

Immerse yourself in a world of tweed and taffeta, frocks and flying suits with NZ’s premier costume collection. Explore the detail of the stunning decorative arts housed in the magnificent 1870 Mountfort Gallery. Find out more →

RealCool

Antarctic adventures of discovery

Epic adventures of Antarctic heroes come to life as you learn about the polar environment and marvel at the vehicles that carried the explorers across the ice. Find out more →

RealPeople

Individuals that shaped history

Step into the realm of pioneering men and women, brave Antarctic explorers, local sporting legends and eccentric collectors. The Museum is home to a wealth of stories about the personalities behind the artefacts. Find out more →

RealNZ

Share our unique taonga

Visit the Iwi Tawhito and Ngā Taonga galleries to share the treasures, or taonga, of the early Māori. See intricate wooden carvings, tools and weapons of bone and greenstone from the time when moa hunters stalked their giant prey. Find out more →

RealFun

Explore the natural world

Discovery, our natural history centre for children, is bursting with weird and wonderful things to explore. Dig for fossils, say “hi” to the live tarantulas and learn all about our amazing world and the creatures that share it. Find out more →